January 2013 Volume 2 Issue 3Y.U.T.E. LAUNCHES RESOURCE BOOKLET FORURBAN YOUTH

IInn TThhiiss IIssssuuee­ Y.U.T.E. / NYS Participants Ready for Apprenticeship­ Mentorship Matters ­ Daina Dyer and Chevanese Johnson share their mentoring journey

BOOKLET 'A VALUABLE TOOL' SAYS YOUTH MINISTER

Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna, peruses her copy ofthe Services for Urban Youth booklet seated next to Y.U.T.E.

Chairman Joseph Matalon.Y.U.T.E. launched its resource guide, Services forUrban Youth on Tuesday January 15. The OlympicGardens Civic Centre hosted the launch, which was wellattended by sponsors, Y.U.T.E. participants, andrepresentatives of youth serving organisations.

Services for Urban Youth is a resource guide for youngpeople desirous of accessing services and informationon areas critical to their well­being, including healthservices, the justice system, social welfare and essentialdocuments such as tax registration numbers and birthcertificates. The booklet was produced based on theexperiences of Y.U.T.E. participants, who shared thechallenges they faced in accessing information on criticalservices.

In delivering the welcome, Y.U.T.E. Chairman JosephMatalon acknowledged the support Y.U.T.E. receivesfrom a range of private and public sector entities andvarious international development partners.Thesepartnerships contributed to the execution of programmeactivities that meet the needs of vulnerable youthdesirous of successfully transitioning to employment andemployability.

Chief Executive Officer of the CHASE Fund, Mr. BillyHeaven, voiced his satisfaction with the booklet, andencouraged the participants to the contents carefully,especially the section dealing with business start­up.Similar sentiments were echoed by Mrs. Guinness –Brown from the National Health Fund, who commendedthe Y.U.T.E. Programme for taking the initiative toproduce such a useful resource.

Minister of Youth and Culture, the Honourable LisaHanna lauded the work of Development Options Limitedand the Y.U.T.E. Programme. The Minister noted thecare that had been taken to ensure the youth friendlyformat of the booklet and endorsed the contents asrelevant to the needs of urban youth preparing foremployment. Youth were encouraged to read thebooklet, and to share the information with their peers.

All Y.U.T.E. participants are being provided with a copy ofServices for Urban Youth free of cost. Schools incommunities served by the programme will also receivecopies for their libraries and guidance departments.Additional copies are available at a cost of $500 throughthe Y.U.T.E. Programme Management Office.

Launch of the Services for Urban YouthBooklet

Y.U.T.E. participants, programme sponsors, implementation team and dignitaries were out for the launch of theServices for Urban Youth on January 15. Guests included KSAC Councillor Mr Patrick Robertson and the SocialDevelopment Commission's Manager for Kingston and St. Andrew, Mrs. Sandra Goulbourne. Participants fromnearby Drewsland delighted the audience with their award winning spoken word production.

Here are some snapshots of the day's event.

Mentorship Matters!Daina Dyer and Chevanese Johnson share their mentoring experience

When Daina Dyer (pictured left) first met hermentee Chevanese Johnson in July 2012, sheencountered a quiet, reserved young lady whosaid nary a word. ‘I did most of the talking,’Daina, an Integrated Marketing andCommunications student at the UWI mused. ‘Italked and talked until she started to talk to metoo.’ A discussion on sports and cars followed,after which Chevanese decided that Daina wasthe mentor for her. ‘She didn’t seem like thebossy type,’ said Chevanese, ‘ and she was closeenough to me in age for me to relate to.’Fast forward to January 2013, and this mentormentee pair are well on their way to achievingtheir stated goals.Daina, guided by her training, set out to developa strong bond with Chevanese. ‘I always tell her

she can do it, no matter how difficult it seems,’she says of her mentee, who is pursuingculinary training at Jan’s School of Catering.Daina’s consistency in supporting Chevanesehas led to the development of a healthyrelationship between the two, based on trustand a shared commitment to Chevaneseaccomplishing her goals. The two haveconversations atleast two to three times perweek, and meet up atleast once per month.They admit that finding the time can bechallenging, given work and schoolcommitments on both their parts. However, theyboth consider their mentoring relationship apriority. ‘ I call or text her,’ said Chevanese, ‘Iam comfortable sharing with her.’Since commencing mentoring six months ago,both ladies say they have learnt a lot from eachother. ‘Chev has helped me to be more open andfriendly to everyone, and my punctuality hasimproved,’ she says, laughing. Of her mentor,Chevanese says she is her cheerleader whoalways tells her never to give up on her goal ofbecoming a hospitality professional. ‘I am usingthe training provided by Y.U.T.E. as a steppingstone into the hospitality and tourism field.’Next stop – a Bachelor’s degree in hospitality.This mentor – mentee pair intend to continuetheir relationship beyond the programme. “Ourgoal is to attend each other’s graduations laterthis year,’ says Daina.Kudos to Chevanese and Daina fordemonstrating that mentorship matters!

Thirty seven new volunteers were trained as mentors in January, as Y.U.T.E. moves to mobilisesupport for participants in skills training.Supported by members of the JJaammaaiiccaa PPuubblliicc SSeerrvviiccee CCoommppaannyy tteeaamm and the KKiiwwaanniiss CClluubb ooff EEaassttSStt.. AAnnddrreeww, January saw a surge in applications, with 29 persons applying to volunteer.Training sessions were held on January 16 and 25, and saw attendees being introduced to thefundamentals of mentoring.Feedback suggests that the training was informative and engaging, and solidified the attendees’

commitment to providing support and guidance to their future Y.U.T.E. mentees. The mentors willbe matched in February.

Y.U.T.E. Mentorship Training Sessions Resume

One hundred and five youth graduated from the Y.U.T.E./ National Youth Service training programme forteacher’s aides and administrative assistants on January8. The smartly clad graduates were greeted on behalf ofthe Y.U.T.E. Programme Manager, Maureen Webber, andthe Executive Director of the NYS, Richard Depass. Theparticipants were reminded that their participation in theprogramme was linked to their own personal andprofessional goals, and as such, they had the primaryresponsibility for making the most of the experience.Guest Speaker Mrs. Karol Fernandez had the graduates’full attention during her inspiring presentation. Sheencouraged the graduates to consider their placementsnot only as a job, but as opportunities to serve. Statingthat ‘we are all employed to serve,’ Mrs. Fernandezcharged the participants and well wishers to alwaysthink and act in a manner befitting someone ‘worthy ofself­reliance and trust.’

Teaching aides were admonished to enjoy what theywere doing, and to creatively and wholeheartedlysupport the teachers and students in the learningprocess. Those being placed as administrative assistantswere advised to give excellent customer service to bothinternal and external clients.

Top achiever in the business administration corps,Romario Fearon, thanked Y.U.T.E. and the NYS for theapprenticeship opportunities on behalf of the graduates.He shared that it had been a good learning experiencefor all participants, and expressed confidence that theywould thrive in their placements.The Y.U.T.E. / NYS apprenticeship programme will seeparticipants working in various private and public sectorroles over a twelve month period. Upon completion,participants will receive Level 1 certification for teachers’and administrative assistants.

Y.U.T.E. / NYS Participants Ready for Apprenticeships!

The Graduates March

Rapping with participants after graduation

Participants' Reflection

A proud graduate!

A View from the FrontlinesY.U.T.E. Community Engagement Officer Errol Campbell is responsible forparticipants resideing in the communities of Jones Town and Whitfield Town,as well as those attending Bars to Go Training Institute and St. Patrick'sFoundation's Christ the Redeemer Centre. The UWI graduate reflects on hisrole in the programme.As I ventured into the field of Social Work, my only experience was duringmy high school years; I was an active and vibrant Key Club member whichallowed me to engage in and become a part of community development. Thisearly involvement in community development and social welfare gave me thedrive needed to be a social worker.The beauty about being in the field of Social Work and my true career path isthat both are characterized by an immense passion for making a differencein someone’s life. It has been just over seven months and I have enjoyed aplethora of experiences with various youth, colleagues and sponsors.My first true encounter with YUTE participants was at the Parade Garden'sCentre where I was placed to monitor the Centre.I was openly welcomed by the participants and trainers. However, after afew days it was all about understanding the participants and their desires. Ittook some time for me to be fully accepted by the youths as they were veryskeptical about outsiders; however, it was just a matter of time. As Igradually became accepted, I was honored with the privilege of havinginsightful and engaging discussions with the youths. I was working towardsmy goal of making a significant difference in someone else's life. As I sharedmy thoughts and opinions with the participants I gained first-handknowledge and understanding of unattached youths within our society; thisgave me an even greater appreciation for education, life and the finer thingslife has to offer.In a nut shell, my experience as a Community Engagement Officer (CEO) hasexposed me to corporate Jamaica and most memorably youths. I am indebtedto the YUTE Programme as the experience is incomparable and lifechanging. It is one of the most important opportunities I have gained is towork among unattached inner-city youth and being a positive role model andmentor.

Programme ManagementOffice

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